CLXXX.

A hundred and eighty years before the destruction of the Temple, the empire of idolatry (Rome) began the conquest of Israel.

Shabbath, fol. 15, col. 1.

The empire of Rome was, some think, so designated, because it strove with all its might to drag down the worship of God to the worship of man, and resolve the cause of God into the cause of the Empire.

During the time of the second Temple Persia domineered over Israel for thirty-four years and the Greeks held sway a hundred and eighty.

Avodah Zarah, fol. 9, col. 1.